Song of Songs 7:12

12 Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— there I will give you my love.

Song of Solomon 7:12 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
12 let us go out early to the vineyards and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.
New Living Translation (NLT)
12 Let us get up early and go to the vineyards to see if the grapevines have budded, if the blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates have bloomed. There I will give you my love.
The Message Bible (MSG)
12 Let's sleep at some wayside inn, then rise early and listen to bird-song. Let's look for wildflowers in bloom, blackberry bushes blossoming white, Fruit trees festooned with cascading flowers. And there I'll give myself to you, my love to your love!
American Standard Version (ASV)
12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine hath budded, [And] its blossom is open, [And] the pomegranates are in flower: There will I give thee my love.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
12 Let's go to the vineyards early. Let's see if the vines have budded, if the grape blossoms have opened, if the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
12 Let's go out to the vineyards early. Let's go and see if the vines have budded. Let's find out whether their flowers have opened. Let's see if the pomegranate trees are blooming. I'll make love to you in the vineyards.

Song of Songs 7:12 Meaning and Commentary

Song of Solomon 7:12

Let us get up early to the vineyards
After a night's lodging in the fields, or among the "Cyprus trees". By which "vineyards" may be meant particular churches, gathered according to Gospel order, and distinguished from the world, planted with fruitful vines, and fenced by almighty power: hither the church proposes to "get up early", very early in the morning; being willing to take the first and most seasonable opportunity of visiting the saints, to know their state and condition; and, that her visit might not be in vain, she is for taking Christ along with her; let us see if the vine flourish;
true believers in Christ; who, though weak and worthless in themselves, yet being ingrafted in Christ, the true vine, bring forth fruit, and become flourishing in grace and good works; of the flourishing or flowering of the vine, (See Gill on Song of Solomon 2:13); [whether] the tender grape appear;
or when "the flower of the vine opens" F5, and goes off, and the small grape appears: by which young converts may be meant, who are tender, and have but a small degree of faith and knowledge; and yet these are not overlooked, much less despised, by Christ and his church, but are delighted with the promising appearance they make; [and] the pomegranates bud forth;
stronger believers, taller and more fruitful than the former; see ( Song of Solomon 4:13 ) ; the actings and exercise of whose grace are signified by "budding forth", in an open and visible manner: the church is concerned for the good and welfare of the saints of all ranks and sizes; of vines and pomegranates, as well as tender grapes; and of the budding of the one, as well as of the opening and flowering of the other. And seeing these ends proposed by her are the same with Christ's, ( Song of Solomon 6:11 ) ; she might conclude they would prevail upon him to go with her, particularly what follows: there will I give thee my loves;
in the fields, villages, and vineyards, when alone, and observing the state and condition of particular churches and saints; and having communion with Christ, the church might hope and expect to have her heart enlarged, and drawn forth in love to Christ more abundantly; and that she should be able to manifest it more largely to him, and give clearer and fuller proofs of it: and this she observes in order to gain her point, and get him to go along with her; knowing that her love, in the actings and exercise of it, was very acceptable to him, ( Song of Solomon 4:10 ) ; I see not why the word for "loves" may not be rendered "my lovely flowers"; as a word nearly the same, in ( Song of Solomon 7:13 ) , is by some rendered, "these lovely flowers give a good smell", which seems to refer to the flowers here; such as were to be met with in plenty, in fields and vineyards, among vines and pomegranates, as lilies, violets and may be an allusion to lovers, who used to give to those they loved sweet smelling flowers F6; and here may signify the graces of the Spirit, and the actings of them, which are fragrant, and acceptable to Christ.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (rdmoh xtp) "num si, vel gemmas suas aperuerit flos vitis", Michaelis; to the same sense Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius.
F6 "Naias amat Thyrsin, Glauce Almona, Nisa Theonem; Nisa rosas, Glauce violas, dat lilia Nais". Cythereus Sidonius apud Auson.

Song of Songs 7:12 In-Context

10 I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.
11 Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages.
12 Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— there I will give you my love.
13 The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved.

Cross References 5

  • 1. S Song of Songs 1:6
  • 2. Song of Songs 2:15
  • 3. Song of Songs 2:13
  • 4. S Song of Songs 4:13
  • 5. Song of Songs 6:11
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